Until We Meet Again Istanbul

Yesterday (April 29th) was our last day in Istanbul. I can not believe this adventure is over. We are excited to visit Athens, Greece, but I believe any city would be a let-down after Istanbul (except maybe home, of course). Mary Margaret and I both highly recommend visiting Istanbul if you ever get the opportunity. The history, the food, the people: everything is incredible and more than we could have ever dreamed.

On our last day in Istanbul, we brought Nathaniel and Jonathan to see the old city walls of Constantinople and Chora Church. We went to visit Seonkyeong and Mustafa's jewelry shop, and then Nathaniel and I climbed Galata Tower for a great late afternoon view of Istanbul. We met our friends for a farewell dinner. Goodbyes are absolutely no fun, but Mary Margaret and I are extremely blessed to have made such wonderful friendships while here. Oh and I ate lamb skewers. Delicious.

Jonathan climbing the old city walls of Constantinople

View from the old city walls

In the lookout tower of the old city walls

One family member decided she had enough heights for a while

Old city walls of Constantinople

Mary Margaret and Jonathan in Chora Church

At the top of Galata Tower with the Bosphorus Strait in the background

The sun setting on the old city

Reading my Turkish coffee fortune: I'm going to own a yacht

Reading Mary Margaret's Turkish coffee fortune: Something about a horse and eight children

Sweet friends at our farewell dinner

Galata Tower at night

Off to Athens.

Love,
Brooke

When Arkansas Met Istanbul

Nathaniel made it to Istanbul safely! There might have been some tackling action in the Ataturk Airport. This is Nathaniel’s first European trip (he has visited the Philippines twice). We also keep saying this is our first family vacation. I think next time, we are all going to wear matching hats: it can be difficult to keep four people together in a city of 17 million (plus or minus 3 million depending on who gives us the statistic). Again, the weather is beautiful here, which makes sightseeing even better, if that is possible. I have taken a few pictures in the past two days… yeah… just a few. 

Taking a Bosphorus Cruise

Eat at a fish restaurant on Galata Bridge. Check.

Fresh fish sandwich

The Blue Mosque is pretty impressive at night too

So excited to be in Istanbul

Jonathan and Mary Margaret in Hagia Sophia

Nathaniel and me in Hagia Sophia

Blue Mosque

Jonathan and Mary Margaret in the Blue Mosque courtyar

Underground Cistern

"You look like a little kid." Don't I always?

On Galata Bridge in front of the Bosphorus Strait

Chicken kebab

Jonathan's Iskender

One more day in Istanbul!

And our hostel on the European side has three pet birds flying around the lobby. They keep swooping beside me while I am using the internet. Interesting place.

Love,
Brooke

Making Our Friends Think We Are Locals

Our friends are here! Our friends are here! Kirsten and Amanda arrived in Istanbul late Wednesday night, and Jonathan arrived in Istanbul late Thursday afternoon. It has been so fun showing our friends around the city we have come to love, and the weather has been absolutely beautiful. We have also enjoyed letting them experience how delicious the food is. They agree… unlike anything you have ever tasted! I think Kirsten even had another "close your eyes good" moment with her kebab. Kirsten and Amanda left for Athens a couple of days ahead of us (after a little flight over-booking and an airline monetary gift). Mary Margaret and I were sad to end our travels with them. We are really blessed to have sweet friends to enjoy traveling and spending so much time with.

Here are some pictures of Mary Margaret and me expertly guiding our friends through Istanbul...

Me, Kirsten, Amanda, and Mary Margaret touring Topkapi Palace

Kirsten, Amanda, Jonathan, Mary Margaret and me: The Sultan and His Wives

Just lunching in Gulhane Park

Chicken schnitzel

Mary Margaret and Jonathan in front of the Bosphorus Strait

Jonathan and Amanda both wore purple... obviously we know who the favorite wife is

Kirsten, Mary Margaret and Amanda at the top of Galata Tower with the Old City in the background

Jonathan and Mary Margaret at the top of Galata Tower

St. Anthony's Cathedral

Inside St. Anthony's Cathedral

Buying chestnuts from a street vendor

Of course we had to introduce Memphis friends to one of our new friends Aysu

Meat, mozzarella, pistachio, and mint kebabs

A sweet Arkansas boy may or may not have made his way here as well. We shall see...

Love,
Brooke

Every Good Story Starts and Ends With Cake

Our first day at Marmara University, we ate cake. Our last week at Marmara University, we ate cake. I think all "Hellos" and "Goodbyes" should be accompanied by cake. It helps my tender heart.

We have had a great last week in Istanbul. We have seen more beautiful sights and ate (too much) delicious food. Our gracious friend Emine even let us do laundry at our house. She said she did not want Jonathan and Nathaniel to think we are smelly people now. Emine even gave us each one of the hand-stitched scarves she received from her mother before her wedding. Needless to say, we got teary.

Also, Aysu and her sweet parents made lunch for us on Children's Day, April 23, which is a national Turkish holiday to celebrate the future leaders of Turkey: children. Pretty great idea, if you ask me! The meal was astounding. Yes. Astounding. Imagine the biggest Thanksgiving meal you have ever had plus three dessert servings. I left thinking, "This is it. I am going to drown in food and die a happy, over-stuffed person." I did not die. But it was close. 

And if that wasn't enough, the girls gave Mary Margaret and me each a zip-up jacket embroidered with Marmara University. We are speechless. 

Before our presentation

Receiving our certificate of completion after our presentation

Eli, Aysu, Mary Margaret, me, Seonkyeong, and Emine

Playing in the park

With sweet friends

Wait... why are there tulips in a non-tulip post? I know. I couldn't help it.

The view of the European side of Istanbul and the Bosphorus Strait

Some of our Children's Day spread

Fruit parfait and tea

Aysu and her mom: our sweet and incredible cooks

Below is a picture of the "minibus" we use to get everywhere in Istanbul (except when we take the ferry to the European side, of course). I am sometimes amazed that I let this contraption shuttle me from place to place. There have been multiple occasions where I am half-in-half-out of the minibus when it takes off. They also do not follow any type of traffic rules, from what we can tell. And, we are extremely excited when we get a seat. Sometimes, its a sardine can (understatement).

Your chariot awaits, my dear.

Our international rotation is finished. We can not believe we have been here an entire month. Time has flown. To the faculty and staff in the clinical pharmacy department at Marmara University, teşekkür ederim (thank you) for having us. We were so fortunate to be able to see clinical pharmacy in Turkey. Thank you for your hospitality and letting us participate in your hospital visits and discussions. You have a great program, and we are excited to see what is to come for you in the future.

To our new friends, teşekkür ederim from the bottom of our hearts for spending so much time with two girls you barely knew. Thank you for investing in us and letting us be a part of your lives. Thank you for always including us and speaking English when you could talk a thousand times faster in Turkish. We have loved our experience here mainly because of each of you (and the food... we can't forget the food). Its hard for us to leave you, but we will see you again when you visit Memphis (soon we hope!). We hope you will remember us at least half as fondly as we will remember you. Sherefe (Cheers)!

And I am officially done with pharmacy school. Now, its time to do some sight-seeing with our manly men and Kirsten and Amanda.

Love,
Brooke